eBay boss bids for governorship

Meg Whitman, the ex-boss of eBay, has confirmed her bid to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California.

Arnie the Terminator must stand down in 2010 after completing four terms - he won't be back.

The bid is no great surprise - Republican Whitman, who was co-chair of John McCain's failed presidential bid, left her various board positions at eBay, Procter and Gamble and Dreamworks at the end of last year.

Then in February she hired a team of 20 advisers - including ex-Arnie advisers - to prepare for the election under the slogan "A New California".

Whitman will formally confirm her running in a speech later today. In excerpts given to AP, Whitman pledged to cut $15bn from the state's budget and sack 40,000 state employees.

She will face challenges for the candidacy from Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell, who have already confirmed they will stand. ®